Tennessee Two Step

Join the caravan to Knoxville. We’re taking Volunteers.

Story by Marcus Wilkins
Photos courtesy of Visit Knoxville
Published Nov. 6, 2012

Knoxville, Tenn., was the host of the 1982 World’s Fair, is home to the Tennessee Valley Authority headquarters and gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.

University of Tennesee’s Neyland Stadium

It is also Mizzou football’s next destination as the Tigers take on the University of Tennessee Volunteers Saturday at 11:21 a.m. on KQFX. (The men’s basketball team opens its regular season at home against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 4 p.m. on the Mizzou Sports Network.)

From Columbia, it’s a scenic drive to Knoxville across half of Missouri and most of Tennessee, with food, fun and frivolity at the end of the journey. Join the Tiger Tailgate sponsored by the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Top 10 Things to Do, See and Experience in Knoxville

Calhoun’s on the River at Volunteer Landing

1. Calhoun’s on the River
Tennessee’s famous barbecue joint boasts the “best ribs in America” — a bold brag in the Volunteer State. The river location is accessible by boat, has its own boat dock for diners’ vessels and a panoramic view of the Tennessee River.

2. Chandler’s Deli
Another establishment claiming some of Tennessee’s best barbecue, Chandler’s Deli also has great soul food.

3. Litton’s
Many Tennesseans think Litton’s hamburgers are the best in the country. The dessert menu is popular, too.

4. Ye Olde Steak House
This eatery was voted “Best Steak House in Knoxville” by Knoxville Metropulse magazine, and it has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food.

6. Knoxville Visitor Center
Located in the heart of downtown Knoxville, this is no ordinary grab-a-brochure-and-go kind of place. Stop in for coffee, locally made crafts and a live Americana music performance every day at noon.

7. Knoxville Zoo
One of the top zoological parks in the Southeast has an internationally renowned preservation and breeding program, and more than 230 species and 800 animals.

8. Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center
Centrally located with easy access to the greenway and the Tennessee River, the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center makes outdoor recreation more accessible to everyone. Bike and boat rentals are available on the main level where River Sports Outfitters has opened their newest storefront offering retail sales, programs and classes.

10. Ijams Nature Center
This wildlife sanctuary and environmental education center encompasses more than 300 acres of protected woodlands and meadows and the reclaimed Mead’s Quarry site. It’s open for exploration via seven miles of nature trails including a boardwalk on the Tennessee River.